Every year, hay fever makes the spring and summer a misery for millions across the UK. Congestion, itchy eyes, coughing and sneezing can make it feel like you’re permanently under the weather, with March to September the most difficult months for anyone with an allergy to pollen. Thankfully, there’s a great choice of effective hay fever treatments on the market. From nasal sprays and eye drops to antihistamine tablets, there are plenty of ways to ease irritation, relieve symptoms and reclaim your summer. Let's work together to manage your hay fever symptoms and enjoy the outdoors comfortably.
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Hay fever is an allergic reaction that causes sneezing, itchy/watery eyes, and a runny or stuffy nose. It's triggered by pollen and fungal spores in the air.
The NHS says that up to 1 in 5 people get hay fever symptoms when pollen counts are high. Sunny, dry days make pollen worse while rain helps clear the air.
Your body mistakes pollen for a danger and mounts an allergic response to try to flush it out - hence the sneezing, itching, and drippy nose. Though just an overreaction, hay fever can make summers miserable without the right medication.
For many, the symptoms of hay fever are irritating in every sense. Different people react in different ways, but the most common symptoms are:
As hay fever is a chronic condition, there is no ‘cure’. In most people the symptoms of hay fever will ease, to some extent, as they get older. In up to 20% of people they can disappear completely.
For mild/moderate cases, no official diagnosis is needed. Over-the-counter medication from your pharmacy is usually enough.
But see a doctor if symptoms are severe or happen year-round. They can do allergy tests to identify the trigger.
Those with eczema, asthma, family history of hay fever, or early smoke exposure are more prone to it.
The right hay fever medication provides relief, so don't hesitate to speak to one of our pharmacists and start your hay fever consultation today.
Hay fever treatment can be very individual and depends very much on the type and severity of symptoms you experience. For mild to moderate hay fever symptoms, over-the-counter hay fever tablets, eye drops and nasal sprays may be enough to keep symptoms controlled. Patients who experience more severe hay fever symptoms that have a significant impact on their daily life may wish to seek prescription hay fever treatment.
Hay Fever Tablets (antihistamines)
Hay fever tablets work by blocking histamine - the chemical that causes all the sneezing, itching, and stuffy nose. Just one a day can provide long-lasting relief from multiple hay fever symptoms with few side effects.
The prescription hay fever tablets that are available from The Independent Pharmacy are:
We are also able to offer over-the-counter hay fever tablets containing well-known antihistamines including:
Common over-the-counter brands of hay fever tablets include:
Hay Fever Nasal Sprays (corticosteroids & antihistamines)
Hay fever nasal sprays usually contain a corticosteroid (steroid), which helps to reduce inflammation and calm the irritation in your nose. You apply steroid nasal sprays to the area of action. You can take them in very low doses and they can still be extremely effective. So, it's unlikely that you'd experience any side effects and still get relief from the nasal symptoms of hay fever.
Prescription steroid hayfever nasal sprays available from The Independent Pharmacy include:
Common over-the-counter brands of hay fever nasal sprays include Beconase and Pirinase as well as generic treatments like beclometasone or fluticasone.
Antihistamine hay fever nasal spray Rhinolast works in a similar way to antihistamine tablets to block hay fever symptoms.
Hay Fever Eye Drops (antihistamines)
Anti-allergy eye drops work by stopping the release of histamine - the chemical that makes your eyes go crazy during allergy season.
Some effective eye drop options are:
You can safely use them along with hay fever tablets and nasal sprays for full relief from every annoying symptom.
Ask your pharmacist if anti-allergy eye drops could help get your itchy, watery eyes under control this season.
Antihistamine tablets are most effective when taken before hay fever symptoms start. For seasonal allergies, the best time to take your hay fever tablets is a couple of weeks before pollen levels typically rise in your area.
And how long do antihistamines take to work? Once the sneezing and stuffiness kick in, the tablets work quickly - you'll likely notice relief within an hour or two. However, their effects build up over several days of consistent use.
For long-lasting protection, take your hay fever tablet at the same time each day as directed. Many antihistamines provide 24-hour relief with just one dose.
If symptoms persist, you can safely combine tablets with nasal sprays or eye drops. But check with your pharmacist first, especially if using multiple products or taking other medications.
The key is staying ahead of hay fever by taking antihistamines regularly throughout allergy season. With proper timing and use, tablets can help keep you symptom-free all spring and summer!
While medication provides relief, there are steps you can take to minimise exposure to pollen and other allergens that trigger hay fever:
Reducing exposure combined with the right medication can help you breathe easier all season long!
Alternative Treatments for Hay Fever
Simple yet effective measures can include things such as wearing wrap-around sunglasses, keeping windows closed when its a high pollen count and washing your hair after a day out to remove any trapped pollen grains from your hair and skin.
There are some non-medicinal products you can buy over the counter such as Prevalin Nasal Spray which can be used on its own or with other medicinal hay fever treatments.
Pollen season can last for months, as different plants release their pollen at different times:
The exact pollen season timing can shift a bit each year based on the weather. But you can count on lots of pollen making the rounds from early spring through late summer/early fall.
If you know which type of pollen impacts you most (grass, trees or weeds), that can help predict when your hay fever will flare up.
For most people it is sensible to start with a once daily antihistamine such as cetirizine or loratadine, taken each morning during pollen season, even if pollen counts are low. You can then adapt your treatment depending on your response, if a once-daily antihistamine is not enough to keep symptoms under control then a different antihistamine can be tried or a nasal spray or eye drops can be added.
You can still experience hay fever on holiday and hay fever sufferers should take preventative medication with them to ensure they can keep their symptoms at bay abroad. It is worth noting that as the trees, plants and grasses can vary abroad, depending on how far you have travelled, the symptoms you experience can be different (more or less severe) to those at home. It is worth taking treatment with you so you are prepared.
Yes, the daily pollen count can fluctuate greatly depending on the weather. In general, rainy days will clear pollen from the air and mean symptoms will be decreased. Both wind and humidity can cause pollen to spread more easily meaning that symptoms will be worse, as they will be on sunny days where more flowers open. Pollen counts tend to be lowest in the early morning and rise throughout the day to a peak at early evening.
Yes, as long as each item is individually appropriate for you to take, there is no problem combining an antihistamine tablet, steroid nasal spray and allergy eye drops to keep hay fever symptoms under control.
Antihistamine tablets start to work within 30 minutes and are normally taken once daily in the morning, swallowed whole with a glass of water. You can take them with or without food.
Unlike steroid nasal sprays, which are best started days before exposure to pollen, antihistamine tablets work quickly and can be taken when you need them. For best protection against pollen, you should take them throughout pollen season to prevent hay fever from occurring.
Antihistamine tablets can be taken at anytime of the day, although they are generally best taken first thing in the morning to help prevent symptoms throughout the day.
All antihistamines have a chance of producing drowsiness, though this can vary from person to person. All of the once-daily antihistamines, frequently called non-sedative antihistamines, and have a lot lower incidence of drowsiness compared to the older types of antihistamine (such as chlorphenamine).
Although most once daily antihistamines work in a similar way, individual responses to them can vary greatly. One antihistamine may work better for you than another. For this reason it may be beneficial to try a new antihistamine if you find one ineffective.
Newer once-daily antihistamine tablets are not addictive and they are safe to use for long periods of time. Older antihistamines that are used for nausea and insomnia can produce some dependency (this is not the same as addiction) when used for long periods. If you are concerned, please contact one of our healthcare professionals for advice.
As long as all of the hay fever treatments are used as advised, and they are only used during hay fever season, their effects will not diminish over time with continued use.
Take the forgotten dose as soon as you remember. If that is not until the next dose is due, do not take a double dose.
Most hay fever treatment starts with a once-daily antihistamine tablet unless symptoms are confined to either just the nose (nasal spray) or the eyes (eye drops).
If an antihistamine tablet is not enough to control your symptoms, you should next add a nasal spray to your treatment regime (unless your eyes are particularly badly affected). A combination of a nasal spray and antihistamine tablet is normally very effective in controlling hay fever.
If further treatment is required, eye drops can also be added to this regime.
In the event that using an antihistamine tablet, nasal spray and eye drops do not control your hay fever, you may wish to switch treatments to test for more effective alternatives.
Always remember that you should use the preventative techniques to reduce the severity of symptoms alongside medicinal treatments.
Avoid blowing your nose or breathing in deeply for a short period of time after administration. This will ensure the medicine is absorbed correctly and has time to work properly.
Steroid nasal sprays need to be started a few days before they are needed to allow them to build up to their full effect. They need to be used continuously throughout the hay fever season for maximum effect. Examples of steroid nasal sprays are Avamys, Beconase, Nasonex, and Flixonase. Read through our hay fever guides to understand Avamys side effects and how to use the spray correctly.
Dymista is a combination hay fever treatment containing a steroid and an antihistamine. The steroid effect may take a few days to build up, however the antihistamine should take effect quickly allowing it to be started when symptoms occur. It should still be taken regularly throughout hay fever season, not just when required.
Unlike steroid tablets, the nasal sprays used for hay fever deliver the drug to exactly where it is needed. This means that smaller amounts are used and only a tiny amount is absorbed in to the body.
The side effects of steroid nasal sprays are minimal in comparison and are usually limited to dry skin inside the nostril(s), redness at site of application and in some patients, taste disturbances.
Authored by
Andy is a co-founder and the Superintendent Pharmacist and Director at The Independent Pharmacy.
Reviewed by
Dan is an experienced pharmacist having spent time working in both primary and secondary care. He currently supports our clinical team by providing robust clinical governance review of our internal processes and information.
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